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rubyreadfox's Reviews (128)
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A science fiction saga reminiscent of Star Wars and Hunger Games. I learned early on that I could not trust a single person, even Darrow. Every moment was a wild ride trying to guess what happened next. The characters were perfectly complex and written beautifully. I felt like I knew them well and saw them as well rounded people. The strategy used by Darrow is so complex and looks deeper than just the surface answers. He struggles with who he is and what is right the entire time. It was everything I needed to dive into a thick immersive series to lose myself in. I do think it is important to acknowledge Pierce Brown’s support of Israel and their committing of a genocide. It is interesting to me that an author can write a dystopian overthrowing of an oppressive government, supporting an actively colonizing state. I also believe that there could have been more acknowledgment of oppression and how it affects a people, however it seems Darrow was immediately taken from being impoverished to living to being of high society. We don’t see much of the people that are being oppressed but focus is on those who are oppressed. I did enjoy the series and plan on reading the second half later on but hope these issues are further addressed.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A cozy magic murder mystery is the best way I can describe this book. It was predictable in the way that you knew what was coming next but wasn’t sure how it was going to play out. The dark academia vibes it gives makes the magic a more mysterious element, as if you cannot quite grasp how it works. Shepherd creates such an immersive story you will be questioning all maps you come across.
Nell Young grew up within the cartography department of the New York Public Library. Her entire’s life goal was to just be good enough for her incredibly talented and genius father who has become a king within the department. Her mother who passed away when she was just a toddler in a house fire had also been a proficient cartographer and Nell just can’t seem to fill their shoes. Now she must return to the NYPL after she was banished to uncover the mysterious death of her own father. What she uncovers goes much deeper than she ever thought.
This novel was beautifully written and the story flowed seamlessly. I did however find myself bored at times with the world building due to the modern elements of the story. Despite it taking place in almost an alternate reality of New York I kept feeling lost as to where the characters actually were. The transitions to new scenes sometimes felt choppy, making me question how they got there so fast and what they were doing in the meantime. The characters also were pretty predictable at times however their interactions were not. I knew each person and their personality before it was fully revealed but not necessarily how they would react to a given situation. This made the story so much more engaging because I didn’t feel like I had to look for hidden messages about a character, I could trust who they were. I did not find it significantly memorable enough to overwhelmingly recommend it to anyone I meet but would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a stand alone mystery. Overall I enjoyed reading this and would definitely pick up any of Shepherd's other works.
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dorn’s writing is a call to Lesbian Pulp Fiction novels of the 1950s. It is an exploration of what it means to be queer in modern society and how the community sets rules to maneuver within it. A cannot put down book with so many twists and turns it will leave you breathless.
Finding love in Los Angeles is a feat unto itself, finding love within the Lesbian scene seems to be impossible for Astrid Dahl. Her relationships however may be influenced by a concoction of uppers, downers, and every bad decision in between. A recent bad interview has left questioning her next move and making questionable choices. She needs to find a way back to the surface of her drowning life to find herself again.
The book was an entire rollercoaster ride that I enjoyed every second of. I could not put this book down. Every chapter gave a new gut punch or heart break. This was unlike anything I’ve read before and I could not get enough of. It is not often that a story can be so chaotic and still keep me engaged. More often than not the manic parts become difficult to understand and leave me skimming but not Dorn. She makes you feel a part of the ride and gives just enough to understand but also gives the feel of the highs and lows Astrid was going through. There were so many times I found myself stressed at Astrid’s choices and wanting to reach through to strangle her. Other authors attempt to do this but can make characters lose personality or make them become overly self deprecating. What I find most influential about this book is the light it sheds on the queer communities and how interactions are guided by these unspoken rules within. It also gives a brief glimpse into what it means to be queer or lesbian and finding your own identity.